Fountain comb



Jall- 1952 R. E. DIXON FOUNTAIN COMB Filed March 15, 1950 If F W J F i w 1:melalammmemmlemalalalelemelaluamauuelm Robert E Dbron IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN COMB Robert Dixon, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 15, 1950, serial No. 149,662

lClaim. (01. 132 -13) This invention relates to a fountain comb of simplified construction and desi n which can be readil filled with water, a wave set lotion, or any hair preparation and which has a valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to the teeth and can be simply and effectively operated with the fingers While holding the comb in one hand.

An important object of this invention is to provide a combined fluid dispenser and comb which can be readily manipulated with one hand to both comb the hair and dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid through it, the comb being simple in construction and design, may be manufactured inexpensively in large quantities and may be effectively operated with a minimum of manipulation.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line I-I of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the comb; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 33 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve and valve stem.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification reference characters indicate corresponding ele: ments throughout.

The combined comb and dispenser of the present invention is indicated at I and may be fabricated of attractively colored plastics and the like materials. The comb includes a relatively flat body portion I2 and an integral extension I4 forming a handle, both the body portion and the handle including a fluid-retaining reservoir I6. The handle includes a threaded end I8 for removably receiving an internally threaded cap 20 for access to the reservoir when the latter is to be filled with a fluid such as water, a wave set lotion, or any other hair dressing.

The body I2 includes a very thick bottom portion 22 carrying integrally formed spaced comb teeth 24. Formed in one end of the arm portion 22 of the body and opening into the spaces between a selected number of the teeth 24 are a plurality of bores or apertures 26. Interconnecting the reservoir I6 with the bores 26 is a substantially c-shaped conduitor passage 28 which is provided with a valve means 30 for closing and opening the passage so that a predetermined quantity of fluid in the reservoir may be dispensed to the teeth through the passage 28 and the bores 26.

The valve means 30 include a tapered valve seat 32 formed in the body I2 and extending into the C-shaped passage 28 and a recess 34 in the body opposite to and in horizontal alignment with the valve seat. The recess 34 is communicated with a reduced bore 36 extending horizontally through the body and opening beneath and proximate the handle portion I4. A valve stem 38 extends through the bore 36 and the recess 34 and into the O-shaped passage 28 and carries at one end a tapered valve 40 which seats upon the tapered valve seat 32. A coil spring 42 is wound about the valve stem 38 and interposed between valve 40 and the shoulder 44 between the recess 34 and the bore 36, the coil spring normally urging the valve into seating engagement with the valve seat. The free end of the valve stem 38 includes an annular recess 46 and a knob 48 constituting a finger gripping means. As will be seen clearl in Figure 1, the valve stem 38 extends parallel to and is disposed immediately beneath the handle I4 adjacent its connection with the body portion I2.

In use, the cap 20 is removed and suitable fluid is placed in the reservoir I6. Cap 20 is then replaced and the operator then grasps the handle I4 with one hand while moving the comb through the hair, and manipulates the valve stem with one of the fingers and a thumb to move the stem outwardly or to the right of Figure 1 against the action of the spring 42 so that the valve becomes unseated from the valve seat at which time fluid will pass from the reservoir through the passage 28 and through the apertures 26 to be delivered to a number of the teeth, as will be readily understood. Thus a predetermined quantity of the fluid can be readily delivered to the hair while the comb is passing therethrough with a simple manipulation of the fingers and the use of only one hand.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A fountain comb comprising a hollow body having a fluid compartment therein, an elongated hollow extension on said bod communicating with said compartment and forming a handle, a removable cap on said handle for access to. said compartment, teeth carried by said body, bores in said body opening into the spaces between a plurality of teeth adjacent said handle, a substantially C-shaped conduit in said body having one leg communicative with said bores and the. other leg communicative with said compartment,

a valve seat in said other leg ofsaid conduinal valve stem extending slidably through a portion of said body immediately adjacent 'said'handl'e and extending substantially parallel thereto, a 20 valve on the inner end of said stem, spring means normally urging said valve on said valve seat to close said conduit and cut off flow of liquid therethrough, and finger gripping means on the outer end of said stem.

ROBERT E. DIXON.

REFERENCES CITED The .followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

